My Top Four Knitting Tips
When new knitters ask for advice on how to improve their skills, I think of these four things first.
Never doubt your skills.
Do you know how to knit and purl stitches? Then you have the basic stitches done. I’m not saying you have to go out and knit a Fair Isle sweater once you feel you have a grip on the 2 basic knitting stitches. What I’m saying is, never look at a pattern and allow yourself to say “I’ll never be able to make that.” If that’s your attitude, you’ll never progress. Have confidence that you can learn any knitting technique.
Try different methods.
Don’t buy into the hype. There are several options for any technique you may want to try, but there is no “BEST” technique. Look around, decide what works best *for you*. Why? Because you’ll enjoy your craft so much more when you enjoy the techniques you use. For example, after 40 years knitting, I’ve recently discovered that a combination of Norwegian and English purl stitches are the best, for me, to knit 2-color stranded colorwork. If you want to practice your colorwork tension on a quicker project, the So Damn Good Beanie and So Damn Good Mitts are great places to start."
Pick patterns that push you.
It’s so easy to select simple patterns that use the same techniques. It’s not a bad thing, either. But in case you hadn’t noticed, all my tips are pushing you to learn. The more you know about knitting, the more fun you’ll have, and, hopefully, the longer you’ll keep your knitting hobby going. Which is actually good for your health according to this AARP article. So let’s start learning! How about a project that introduces new construction? My Hinterfolk Socks use a unique Diamond Gusset for a better fit around your arch.
Ask for help.
Never be afraid to ask for help. Local yarn shops usually have resources to help you. While not all shops have staff able to help you if you walk in off the street, many do. If you don’t live in an area with an LYS, there’s youtube tutorials. Or me. I’m always willing to try new ways of explaining my patterns.
Take my Braided Petals Cowl for example. It features unique cable stitches that might look intimidating at first glance, but they are completely doable once you find the rhythm. If you find yourself stuck on a specific twist or transition, don’t just set the needles down—reach out. I’m here to help you navigate the tricky bits so you can get back to enjoying the knit.